Bottle-capping machine



w. L. BURNS BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 7 Filed April 11., 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l ww/i Aug 1929- w. L. BURNS 1,726,054

' BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE v Filed April 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

meter PATENT cur er...

UNITED. STATES WILLIAM I1. BURNS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNGR TO BURNS BOTTLING MACHINE WORKS, INCORPORATED, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOTTLE-GAPPING MACHINE.

Application filed April 11, 1927.

This invention relates to machines for crimping caps on bottles; and it consists of a feed mechanism, for placing the caps in position to be crimped on the bottles, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the feed mechanism, partially in section, showing the cap delivery chute in its lowest position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the delivery chute fully raised and in a position to receive caps from the main chute. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the delivery chute, from below. Fig.4 is a front end view of the slidable port block and pusher bar. Fig. 5 isa front View of one of the adjustable brackets for supporting the main chute. Fig. 6 is a side view of the same.

The capping machine is provided with a frame 8 having asupport or platform 9 for the caps provided with steps 10. The caps 12 are placed on this support one after another, so that they abut against the stops 10, and the bottle is raised until. its top 1% engages with the front part of the cap and lifts it clear of the stops 10. The cap is then projected horizontally onto the bottle mouth by a spring-actuated pusher bar 15 which is mounted in a slidable port block 16. The port block slides horizontally on guides 17 on the frame, and is slid back and forth by any approved means. These parts are similar to those used in bottle capping machines of approved construction. There are several different makes of bottle capping machines which differ slightly in the proportions of the above mentioned parts. This feed mechanism is constructed so that it can be applied to all these different makes in place of the feed mechanisms usually used, and which are not satisfactory in action.

In carrying out this invention a main feed chute 18 is provided, and its lower end is supported by two similar adjustable brackets 19 secured to the frame by screws 19' or other approved fastening devices. The lower end portions of the brackets are connected to the frame by the screws so that their upper parts can be adjusted pivotally, and the holes for the screws are elongated, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the brackets can be raised and lowered a little. The lower part of the main cap chute 18 is pivoted to the upper parts of the brackets, or is otherwise supported by them, so as Serial N0. 182,810.

to permit it to move horizontally when the brackets are moved pivotally.

These brackets are arranged to hold the lower end of the chute in a predetermined position with respect toth'e delivery chute, the exact position being essential to the successful operation of the feed mechanism. They may be raised or lowered, or other brackets may be substituted for them. This enables the feed mechanism to be attached successfully to the various makes of machines to which it is applicable. The caps 12 which slide down the main chute, pass into the pivoted delivery chute 21. Both chutes are rectangular in cross-section, and the delivery chute 21 has arms 22 at its upper part, which project rear wardly and downwardly, and are pivoted on a shaft or pin 24 supported in the frame 8 above the guides 17.

The delivery chute is'preferably curved, and when the port block 16 is drawn back, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the chute 21 rests on the support 9 for the caps. A lug 25 projects upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the delivery chute 21, and is arranged between the arms 22 at the middle of the width of the chute. A serewthreadcd 8O stop pin 26is provided, and engages with a screwthreaded hole in the lug 25, and projects upwardly through an opening 27 in the bottom of the main chute 18. When the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the point of the stop pin engages with the lowest cap in the main chute 18, and holds it against the top of the chute, and prevents'it from sliding down into the delivery chute 21. The screwthreaded pin is adjust-able longitudinally in the lug 25, and is provided with a set-screw 28 for looking it to the lug after its position has been adjusted. A spring 30 is provided and is mounted on a pin 81 in the frame. One end of this spring bears on one of the arms 95 22, and it operates to close down the delivery chute sharply on the cap support 9, and to hold it pressed against the support. Any other approved spring may however be used for this purpose.

When the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the lowest cap in the delivery chute rests against the cap on the cap support 9. When the port block 16 is slid forward to its full extent, as shown in Fig. 2, its front end 1.05 raises the pivoted delivery chute until it is substantially in line with the main chute, and until the stop pin 26 is clear of the lowest cap in the main chute. This permits all the caps in the main chute to slide downwardly in it, and the lowest of them slides into the delivery chute. When the port block is drawn back to its original position, as shown in Fig. 1, the deli very chute descends, and the lowest cap in the delivery chute slides by gravity onto the cap support.

The pusher bar 15 has a notch in its end, which end engages with the edge of the cap on the cap support, and when the port block is pushed forward the spring-actuated pusher bar bears on the cap and holds it pressed against the stops 10, until the rear edge of the cap is raised clear of the stops by the bottle. T he pusher bar spring the-n projects the cap forwardly until it is over the mouth of the bottle, and in a position to be crimped.

hat I claim is:

1. In a bottle capping machine, a main cap chute, a delivery cap chute pivoted at its rear end below the main chute and provided with a projecting lug behind its rear end, and an ad justable stop pin carried by the said lug and adapted to engage with the lowest cap in the main chute when the delivery chute is de pressed out of line with the main chute.

2. In a bottle capping machine, a combination of parts as set forth in claim 1, the said step pin being screwthreaded, and means for locking the screwthreaded pin in the lug after the pin has been adjusted.

3. In a bottle capping machine, a main cap chute, a delivery cap chute arranged in line with the main chute when raised and having its rear end pivoted below the front end of the main chute and adapted to hold a plurality of caps which slide down it by gravity when the delivery chute is depressed, and a stop at the rear end of the delivery chute which is raised by the delivery chute when the latter is depressed out of line with the main chute and which operates to clamp the top of the lowest cap in the main chute against the part of the main chute above it and thereby prevent the lowest cap from pressing down upon the caps in the delivery chute.

l. In a bottle capping machine, a main cap chute, a delivery cap chute pivoted at its rear end below the main cap chute and provided with a lug which projects rearwardly of the chute pivot, and an adjust-able stop pin carried by the said lug and adapted to'rise and engage with the under surface of the lowest cap in the main cap chute when the delivery cap chute is depressed out of line with the main cap chute, thereby relieving the caps in the delivery chute of the down pressure of the caps in the main chute while the delivery chute is being raised.

5. In a bottle capping machine, a main cap chute, a delivery cap chute provided with a pair of rearwardly and downwardly projecting arms at its rear end which are pivoted below the main cap chute, said delivery cap chute having also a lug arranged between the said arms and projecting rearwardly of the chute pivot, and a stop pin carried by the said lug and adapted to rise and engage with the lowest cap in the main cap chute when the delivery cap chute is depressed out of line with the main cap chute.

(5. In a bottle capping machine, a supporting frame, pivotally adjustable brackets having their lower end portions connected to the frame, a main cap chute having its lower end portion supported by the upper end portions of the said brackets and adjustable horizontally when they are adjusted pivotally, and a delivery cap chute pivoted at its rear end to the said frame below the main cap chute and 1 provided with a stop for engaging with the lowest cap in the main cap chute when the delivery cap chute is depressed out of line with the main cap chute.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

l/VILLIAM L. BURNS. V 

